Package Configuration for Disposable Absorbent Articles

ABSTRACT

A box package containing stacked disposable absorbent articles is disclosed. The package has a pair of top flaps, and a handle cutout on each flap. In one embodiment a handle reinforcing material may be disposed between the handle cutouts. In one embodiment the handle cutouts may be partial, and attached portions of material forming residual cutout flaps may remain attached within the cutouts. Other structural elements may be present to maximize economy of space while maintaining structural integrity, conserving materials and providing a package that is convenient for consumers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, disposable absorbent articles such as diapers and trainingpants are packaged in smaller quantities for retail sale in bags orsealed packages formed of polymeric films, or, in larger quantities,boxes formed of cardboard. Since diapers and training pants may be usedby a consumer at the rate of up to 6 or more per day per child, manyconsumers prefer to purchase such articles in larger quantities, andtherefore, purchase box packages.

The outer surfaces of such larger-quantity retail box packages may besomewhat smooth and slippery, as a result of the manufacturer's desireto provide an attractive print design and finish. The packages may alsobe found by consumers to be relatively large and bulky for purposes ofcarrying. For example, a example of a box package containing 124 size 3disposable diapers may have outside dimensions of approximately 28 cmhigh (bottom to top)×25 cm deep (front to back)×41 cm wide (side toside) (11 in.×9.8 in.×16.1 in.). For this reason, manufacturers of suchbox packages may provide them with a handle configuration. In acurrently marketed configuration, handle cutouts are provided at thesides, near the top, to enable insertion of the fingers of the handsthrough the side panels at each side, hooking of the fingers about theupper edges of the cutouts, and two-handed carry.

However, it is believed that consumers may prefer to carry such packagesusing only one hand. It has been observed that consumers tend to graspand lift such a package by grasping it at only one handle cutout, on oneside of the package. The box material surrounding the cutout may haveinsufficient strength and tear resistance to support the weight of thebox from just one such handle cutout, and tearing of the box upwardlyfrom the handle cutout may result. This may result in a loss of utilityof the handle cutout and/or a negative consumer perception of productquality. It may also result in a partially opened or defaced and damagedpackage of reduced value on a store shelf, in the event a consumerremoves the package from the shelf and then replaces it afterinadvertently tearing it at the handle cutout, perhaps after examiningthe package and changing her mind about her selection.

The manufacturing of such disposable absorbent articles is necessarily arelatively capital-intensive, high-volume, low margin-per-unit business.In order to stay competitive, manufacturers of such articles mustmaintain close control over costs of materials and manufacturing.Incurring additional costs, or saving costs, of even very small amountsper unit may be very significant when multiplied by the volumes of salestypically needed for competitive operation.

Thus, a need for an improved, cost-effective package and handleconfiguration for a diaper package presents itself.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box package configuration;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cardboard cutout of a box package precursorcutout from cardboard stock;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are plan views of handle cutout alternatives shown inrelation to other box package features;

FIGS. 3C-3E are plan views of several handle cutout alternatives;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross section of a box package configuration,through a handle cutout having a residual cutout flap; and

FIG. 5 is a view of a fixture used in the Push-In Force Test describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The description herein will identify elements with respect to thehorizontal and vertical, as if the package configuration described wereassembled and resting on a horizontal surface in its normally uprightposition.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled box package configuration10; and FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cardboard cutout of a box packageprecursor cutout from cardboard stock, which may be folded along thedotted lines shown and glued in suitable locations to form a closed boxpackage configuration such as shown in FIG. 1. The configuration has afirst pair of opposing vertical panels 20 a, 20 b and a second pair ofopposing vertical panels 21 a, 21 b. When the package configuration isassembled, vertical panels 21 a and 21 b have surfaces thatapproximately define planes that are substantially perpendicular toplanes approximately defined by surfaces of vertical panels 20 a and 20b. Vertical panels 20 a, 20 b, 21 a and 21 b form four verticalcontaining walls, or sides, of the package configuration. Theconfiguration also has a pair of opposing horizontal panels 22 a, 22 b,forming the top and bottom containing walls of the packageconfiguration.

The box described herein is contemplated for use as a box container ofpackages of disposable absorbent articles such as disposable diapers andtraining pants. Non-limiting examples include disposable diapers andtraining pants of the kind marketed by The Procter & Gamble Company,Cincinnati, Ohio, under the PAMPERS and LUVS brands. Two or morepackages of such articles in folded stacks wrapped by, or within, apolymer film bag or wrapper, may be contained within the box describedherein. Due to the nature of the materials of which such articles aremade and the manner in which they are manufactured and packaged, suchpackages are typically compressible to varying degrees. The degree ofcompressibility may be adjusted by adjusting the degree to which thearticles are compressed when packaged within their film packages.

Respective panels 20-22 may be formed of single layers or several layersof cardboard material, and each layer may be formed of a single sectionor multiple sections of cardboard material. In the example shown,horizontal panel 22 b is formed of four sections which include exteriorflaps 22 c, 22 d, each of which form approximately half of an outerlayer of horizontal panel 22 b.

Each of exterior flaps 22 c, 22 d may have a handle cutout 30 therein.In the assembled package handle cutouts 30 may be disposed substantiallyopposite each other across the respective adjacent flap edges 23 a, 23b. It will be appreciated that a consumer may lift and carry the packageby inserting fingers of one hand through one of the handle cutouts 30and curling the fingers under so as to attain a grasp of the package atthe top panel, possibly supplementing her grasp by inserting the thumbthrough the other handle cutout and curling it under, toward thefingers.

It may be desirable that the package configuration 10 be stackable(i.e., the package will support the weight of a number of additionalpackages stacked on top of it, without crushing or collapsing) forpurposes of efficiency in shipment and storage, and purposes ofmaintaining an attractive appearance for presentation on store shelves.Unlike packages containing relatively hard or rigid articles such asmetal cans or glass bottles which provide rigid structural support in astacked configuration, the package contemplated herein will containrelatively compressible packaged materials, e.g., disposable absorbentarticles, substantially filling the space within the box structurebetween the respective opposing vertical panels and from bottom to top.Thus, it may be desirable that the box be formed of a cardboard havingsuitable rigidity and strength to provide stackability. Accordingly, forthe package weights contemplated herein, it may be deemed important thatthe package configuration be formed of a corrugated cardboard comprisingtwo outer layers of flat linerboard sandwiching an inner corrugated(fluted) layer, having flutes of size C or larger. In order for thepackage to best sustain vertical loads, it may be desirable that theflutes be oriented in direction FO (flute orientation), i.e., verticallyrelative the sides of the assembled package sitting in its normallyupright position on a horizontal surface. (This means that the flutesform channels within the cardboard that extend along direction FO, i.e.,vertically relative the sides of the assembled package sitting in itsnormally upright position on a horizontal surface.)

Additionally, while the compressible contents do not provide rigidstructural support, they may be packed into the box with sufficientcompression so as to exert some outward pressure on the respectivepanels, thereby providing supplemental support to the cardboard outerstructure. Accordingly, it may be desirable to have the containedcontents substantially fill the box such that they exert some outwardpressure on the panels, particularly the top panel (horizontal panel 22b), and thereby provide supplemental structural support. Accordingly,referring to FIG. 1, it may be desired that the contained articles leavea top clearance TC between the inside of panel 22 b and the top of thecontained articles, of no more than 1 cm and more preferably zero,measured from the plane defined by the inside top corners of the box tothe top of the contained articles at their highest point, with thepackage resting in its normally upright position on a horizontalsurface.

The handle configuration depicted in FIG. 1, however, presents somestructural concerns. Under certain circumstances cardboard fluteorientation along a particular direction may provide greater chances forpropagation of tears in that direction, as compared with the directionperpendicular to the flutes. Thus, with handle cutouts 30 situated asshown, particularly close to flap edges 23 a, 23 b as shown, stressesconcentrated in the area between the handle cutout and flap edges maypromote tearing at the handle cutout that may propagate all the way tothe flap edges 23 a or 23 b, resulting in failure of the handlestructure. In order to minimize the possibility for such tearing orfailure, additional structural features may be included.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, in order to provide sufficient materialbetween the inside edge 30 i of the handle cutout 30 and the flap edge23 a or 23 b to avoid an unacceptably high concentration of stresses ina relatively narrow strip of material lying between the handle cutoutand the flap edge, it may be desired that the distance D between insideedge 30 i and flap edge 23 a or 23 b be no less than 25 mm, morepreferably, no less than 27 mm. (Herein, the “inside edge” of a handlecutout is the edge closest to a flap edge.)

In order to provide a reinforced handle structure, it may be desiredthat the box be designed and sized such that flaps 22 c and 22 d overlapwhen in assembled and closed configuration, thus providing at least twolayers of material between the handle cutouts, increasing strength andresistance to tearing. This configuration, however, requires usage ofrelatively more cardboard material, and also may create an uneven topsurface if the overlap is only partial, i.e., does not extend across theentire top panel. Referring again to FIG. 1, in another alternative thepackage may be designed such that the flaps 22 c and 22 d do not overlapwhen the box is in assembled and closed configuration. However, thepackage may be provided with a strip of handle reinforcing material 24.Handle reinforcing material 24 may be disposed between the handlecutouts 30 and may extend across the entire top horizontal panel 22 b,and may be attached to the vertical panels 20 a, 20 b, thereby providinga strap-like structure to distribute stresses resulting from lifting thepackage at the handle cutouts, to the sides of the package. Handlereinforcing material 24 may be formed of a supplemental strip ofcardboard, paper, polymeric film or other material adhered and/orotherwise attached to the flaps 22 c, 22 d and/or the vertical panels 20a, 20 b. In one example, handle reinforcing material 24 may be a stripof adhesive tape of suitable tensile strength applied along asubstantially straight line across the top of the package between thehandle cutouts and down over respective vertical panels 20 a, 20 b. Thehandle reinforcing material, if disposed over the surface of horizontalpanel 22 b, may be substantially translucent or transparent so that itdoes not obscure graphics, indicia, designs or other artwork orcommercial information that may be printed on the top panel; forexample, if the handle reinforcing material is tape, it may be asubstantially translucent or transparent tape. Referring to FIGS. 3A and3B, to minimize the possibility for tear propagation, it may bedesirable that edge 24 e of handle reinforcing material 24 besubstantially tangent to inside edge 30 i of each handle cutout, or atmost, a distance HD of 8 mm from 30 i. Accordingly, the handlereinforcing material 24 should be wide enough and/or the handle cutouts30 should be suitably located, to provide for such maximum distance HDfor both handle cutouts. Without intending to be bound by theory, it isbelieved that most consumers will prefer handle cutouts of the typedescribed herein to be no more than 65 mm apart for ease of use andone-handed carry, and more preferably, no more than 60 mm or even nomore than 55 mm apart. Accordingly, handle reinforcing material shouldbe no more than 55 mm wide in an area of horizontal panel 22 b betweenthe handle cutouts.

For packages of the weights contemplated herein, it may be desirablethat handle reinforcing material 24 is a strip having a tensile strengthmeasured in the direction of its length of at least 20 pounds, morepreferably at least 25 pounds, and even more preferably, at least 30pounds, per inch width, and the strip should most preferably wide enoughto extend width-wise at least 80 percent of the distance between thehandle cutouts.

Additionally, where handle reinforcing material 24 is tape or othermaterial adhered or attached to the surface of horizontal panel 22 band/or surfaces of vertical panels 20 a, 20 b, it may be desirable thatthe material have sufficient tensile strength and adhesion or attachmentto the surface of panel 22 b such that it may not be lifted or pulledaway from the surface by use of only mechanical lifting and/or peelingforce, without the package material failing, i.e., the material of whichthe package is formed will partially or entirely fail, tear ordelaminate before the attachment between the handle reinforcing material24 and the package surface is completely broken by mechanical liftingand/or peeling force. For example, if handle reinforcing material 24 istape, it may be desirable that the tape may not be completely liftedand/or peeled away from the package surface without tearing at least aportion of the underlying package material along with it. This ensuresthat stresses caused by lifting the package are distributed broadly toas much material as possible, i.e., beyond the handle reinforcingmaterial 24 and along and into the top and/or side panels.

To further reduce the chances for tear propagation, the handle cutoutsmay be designed such that they have profiles having no sharp insidecorners pointing toward the flap edges, or sharp bends at or proximatetheir inside edges, at which stress from lifting the package would tendto concentrate. FIG. 3C depicts one alternative, an oval- orelliptical-shaped cutout 30. It can be seen that such a cutout 30 has aprofile with only gradually rounded inside bends proximate its insideedge 30 i. The cutout 30 may also be circular, bean-shaped orpeanut-shaped, again, with no sharp inside corners pointing toward theflap edges, or sharp bends at or proximate their inside edges. (Forpurposes herein, a “sharp inside corner pointing toward a flap edge” isa portion of a cut path forming a macroscopically sharp angle, whereby aline bisecting the angle and extending along a direction from within thearea circumscribed by the cutout, toward and intersecting the cut pathat the angle vertex, and then extending away from the cutout, intersectsthe flap edges.) Thus, the possibility for concentrated stress andassociated tear propagation is reduced. FIG. 3D depicts anotheralternative, a cutout defined by a pair of spaced-apart semicirclesections 30 a, 30 b of radius r, joined by a pair of straight sections30 c (“race track” shaped cutout). As with an oval- or elliptical-shapedcutout, the handle cutout shown in FIG. 3D presents only rounded insidebends proximate its inside edge 30 i, or a straight portion. In anotheralternative, handle cutout 30 may be defined by a rounded rectangleshape, i.e., a rectangle having its corners rounded. Other suitableshapes for the handle cutouts may include but not be limited tocircular, bean-shaped, peanut-shaped, oval, ovaloid, egg-shaped,elliptical, rounded rectangle and race-track shapes.

In yet another alternative, handle cutout 30 may have a profile definedby a semicircle or lesser section of a circle characterized by astraight line segment along one edge and an arc of a circle along theopposing edge; the areas where the two geometric components meet mayalso be rounded. With these latter two profiles, it may be preferred byconsumers that straight portions of the adjacent cutouts 30 face eachother, i.e., are closest the flap edges. These latter two cutoutprofiles may not be quite as effective as an oval- or elliptical profilesince stresses may be more apt to concentrate at the transitions betweenthe curved sections and the straight sections. However, the greaterstress concentration may be borne and distributed by an adjacent handlereinforcing material as discussed above. In another alternative,however, the profile of a handle cutout 30 may be defined by asemicircle or lesser section of a circle characterized by a straightline segment along one edge and an arc of a circle along the opposingedge; and the semicircle or lesser section of a circle may be disposedclosest the flap edge and the straight line segment may be disposedfurthest away from the flap edge.

In all events, it may be desirable that a top handle cutout 30 be ofsufficient size to allow most consumers to conveniently and comfortablyinsert at least three and more preferably four fingers into the openingand curl them under, but not so large as to have adverse effects on thestructural rigidity of the package configuration, or unacceptablyincrease the chances that contaminating dust, dirt or debris will enterthe package through an overly large hole, during shipping and handling.It is believed that the most acceptable width W (for example, asillustrated in FIG. 3E) of the handle cutout 30 is in the range of 15 mmto 35 mm, more preferably 20 mm to 30 mm, and still more preferably 23mm to 28 mm. It is believed that the most acceptable length L (see FIG.3D) of the handle cutout 30 is 80 mm to 100 mm, and more preferably 85mm to 95 mm.

The material within handle cutouts 30 may be completely removed duringmanufacture, such that the cutouts circumscribe holes through horizontalpanel 22 b. This may provide for a package having a neater appearance.Such holes, however, particularly if made through the top of thepackage, may allow contaminating dust, dirt or debris to enter thepackage during shipping and handling, and therefore, may be undesirable.Additionally, material completely removed from within handle cutouts canpresent complications during large-scale production manufacturing orshipping, since efforts must be made and/or systems installed tocollect, remove and dispose of or otherwise process cutout/removedmaterial.

Thus, in another alternative, referring to FIGS. 3B and 3E, cutout 30may take the form of a partial cut rather than a complete cutout. Thepartial cut may be a series of perforations along a cut path withterminal ends E_(C), or alternatively, may be a continuous cut thatfollows a path that partially but not completely circumscribes a cutoutor hole through the panel, with terminal ends E_(C). For example, assuggested in FIGS. 3B and 3D, a cut may follow a path that partiallycircumscribes a race track cutout. Thus, material within the cutout isleft attached along fold line 31, and this material may stay attachedand substantially in its original position relative the surroundingmaterial during shipping, thereby avoiding the need to handle removedcutout material during manufacturing, and avoiding formation of a holein the box that may allow contaminants to enter.

When a carry handle is needed, e.g., by a consumer, the cut portionallows separation of material forming residual cutout flap 31 f, and theuncut portion of the otherwise circumscribed cutout profile may form ahandle fold line 31, about which material forming residual cutout flaps30 f within the cutout may fold. It may be desired that the fold line issubstantially parallel to the flap edge, and/or the fold lines of therespective cutouts are substantially parallel each other. Thus, aconsumer may push downwardly on material forming a residual cutout flap30 f, causing cutout flap 30 f to disengage the material of panel 22 bsurrounding the cutout and rotate downwardly and inwardly (into thepackage and toward flap edge 23 a or 23 b) about handle fold line 31,thereby forming an opening through which fingers may be inserted andcurled under to grasp the package. As suggested in FIGS. 3B and 3E, itmay be desired that the cut extend around in the area proximate the flapedge 23 a such that both terminal ends E_(C) of the cut point moretoward each other, rather than more toward the flap edge. Expresseddifferently, it may be desired that a line tangent to the curve orprofile defined by the cut, at each terminal end E_(C), forms a smallerangle with a line defined by the flap edge, which is less than 45degrees, more preferably less than 30 degrees, and still more preferablyless than 15 degrees. In the examples illustrated in FIGS. 3B and 3E,that angle is approximately zero, i.e., such a tangent line L_(TC) isapproximately parallel with a line defined by the flap edge 23 a. Thisfeature may be desired to reduce the chances of a tear propagatingtoward the flap edge as a result of concentration stress at the cutterminal end E_(C), resulting from carrying the package by grasping atthe cutout(s).

It will be appreciated, however, that this partial cut configuration maymake it more difficult for a consumer to identify and/or locate a handlecutout, and push it inwardly to create a handle configuration when, asdiscussed above, the package has a minimum or zero top clearance TCwithin, as discussed above. In other words, when the contents of thepackage are close to, touching, and/or, in some examples, pressingupwardly against the top horizontal panel 22 b, they can obstruct anattempt to push in a residual cutout flap 30 f and fold it under. Thisis illustrated in FIG. 4. An inner package of articles 40 may bepackaged within package configuration 10 such as a box having bottomhorizontal panel 22 b, vertical panel 21 b, and top horizontal panel 22b. The package configuration 10 may be designed, through a combinationof outer container sizing and compression and sizing of inner package ofarticles 40, such that there is zero top clearance TC; and inner packageof articles 40 may even exert upward pressure on top horizontal panel 22b, for added structural support to the package configuration asdiscussed above. It can be appreciated that inner package of articles 40would thus obstruct an attempt to push cutout flap 30 f downward intothe package, separating it from cutout 30 edges and folding it abouthandle fold line 31, toward flap edge 23 a.

To address the problem of handle identification/location, the packagemay be marked on its top surface by printing or other mechanism toinclude a handle indicium about or proximate the handle cutout 30, toprovide a visual signal to the consumer of a location of a handle cutoutthat may be pushed in to create a handle.

To address the problem of obstruction of attempt to push in cutout flap30 f, it may be desirable that the partial cut not be in perforations orsegments, but rather, a continuous cut between terminal ends E_(C). Thismaximizes the ease with which the consumer may separate residual cutoutflap 30 f from surrounding material by pushing it. It may further bedesired that the pressure inside the package configuration, between thetop horizontal panel 22 b, and the contained articles, be controlled viadesign, manufacture and/or filling of the package with its contents, soas not to be so great as to unacceptably frustrate the consumer frompushing the material forming residual cutout flap 30 f inwardly andfolding it around to create a handle configuration. Thus, the packagemay be appropriately sized relative the articles it will contain,and/or, the size(s) and/or degree of compression of the stacks orbundles within inner packages of articles 40 that will be packaged willbe appropriately determined and effected, such that a consumer may pushresidual cutout flap 30 f inwardly and fold it around and under abouthandle fold line 31 without undue difficulty. Referring again to FIG. 4,for example, the design may be such to allow the inner package ofarticles 40 to compress and deflect along a deflection profile 32 so asto permit effective creation of a handle opening. Without intending tobe bound by theory, it is believed that the maximum Push-In Forceconsumers will find acceptable for such a handle configuration is 18pounds as measured herein. Accordingly, it may be desirable that thepackage configuration be designed such that the residual cutout flap 30f may be pushed inwardly by exerting a Push-In Force of no more than 18pounds, more preferably, no more than 15 pounds, and even morepreferably, 13 pounds, as measured by the Push-In Force Test set forthbelow.

Push-In Force Test

The Flap Push-In Force necessary to push in a handle residual cutoutflap on a box package sample is measured on a twin screw, constant rateof extension tensile tester with computer interface (for many boxes asuitable instrument is the MTS Alliance using Testworks 4.0 Software, asavailable from MTS Systems Corp., Eden Prairie, Minn.) using a load cellfor which the forces measured are within 10% to 90% of the limit of thecell. The lower fixture to be mounted on the tensile tester is a squareplatform (not shown) 38 cm by 38 cm by 1 cm thick and made of aluminum.The platform is mounted on the tester via a mounting shaft ofappropriate dimensions and configuration suitable to mount the platformto the stationary base of the tensile tester. When mounted the platformfits between the screws of the tester, centered on the stationary baseof the tester, and is situated with a square surface in a horizontalplane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the crosshead of thetensile tester. The upper fixture 500, as shown in FIG. 5, consists of ashaft 501 (50 mm long by 5 mm in diameter) and presser bar 502 (1.27 mmin diameter and 5.7 cm in length). The ends of the presser bar 502 arerounded at a radius of 0.635 mm. A cylindrical housing 503, attaches thepresser bar to the movable crosshead of the tensile tester. The housingis 1.9 cm in diameter and 8.8 cm long. The housing has a hole 504 (5 mmin diameter and 25.4 mm deep) drilled axially into the housing, intowhich the shaft 501 is inserted. Silicone stopcock grease is applied tothe shaft so that it does not fall out of the hole 504 but can rotatearound the shaft's axis. The upper end 505 of housing is of appropriatedimensions and configuration to mount to the crosshead of the tensiletester. When mounted, the longitudinal axis of the housing is parallelto the direction of movement of the crosshead and perpendicular to thesquare surface of the platform.

Prior to testing, condition the box package sample(s) to be tested in aroom(s) maintained at, first, 40±2° C. and 20±2% relative humidity for24 hours, and then, second, 23±2° C. and 50±2% relative humidity foranother 24 hours, before testing under the second set of environmentalconditions. With a marking pen, draw perpendicular lines on the cutoutflap, dividing its width and length. Place the box package onto theplatform, in its upright position, with either of the lines drawn on thecutout flap extending forward and backward relative to the front andrear of the tensile tester. Adjust the position of the box package onthe platform and the presser bar 502 to align the presser bar 502 withits longitudinal axis over and aligned with the longer line drawn on thecutout flap and the axis of the shaft 501 centered on the shorter linedrawn on the handle flap.

Set the gage length (i.e., the distance between the bottom of thepresser bar 502 and the top of the carton) to 25.4 mm. The tensiletester is programmed to move the crosshead down at 127.0 mm/min. untilit moves 50.8 mm. Zero the load cell and cross head position. Start thetensile tester program and collect data for force (lbs) as a function ofvertical crosshead displacement (mm).

Record the maximum peak force (lbs) to the nearest 0.1 lbs. Repeat themeasurement for the handle flaps on 20 cases and report the average FlapPush-In Force to the nearest 0.1 lbs.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood asbeing strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead,unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean boththe recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding thatvalue. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean“about 40 mm.”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or relatedpatent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation ofany document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect toany invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in anycombination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests ordiscloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning ordefinition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning ordefinition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, themeaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shallgovern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in theart that various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to cover in the appended claims all such changes andmodifications that are within the scope of this invention.

1. A package, comprising: a rectangular box container formed ofcorrugated cardboard, the box having a rectangular top panel, arectangular bottom panel, a pair of oppositely-disposed rectangular sidepanels, a rectangular front panel, and a rectangular back panel; the toppanel being formed at least in part of a pair of opposing flaps, theflaps being integral with the respective front and back panels andextending from proximal edges at horizontal folds in the cardboarddefining upper edges of the front and back and outer edges of the top,and the flaps having distal terminal edges, wherein each of the pair ofopposing flaps has a flap width measured along a direction parallel toits associated horizontal fold and a flap length measured along adirection perpendicular to its associated horizontal fold, and each ofthe pair of opposing flaps has a handle cutout therethrough, the handlecutout having a cutout width and a cutout length and having no sharpinside corner pointing toward a flap edge, the cutout length beingoriented along and substantially centered along the flap width, therespective handle cutouts being respectively disposed substantiallyopposite each other; wherein the corrugated cardboard comprises a firstlayer of linerboard, a second layer of linerboard, and a fluted mediumdisposed between the first linerboard and the second linerboard, thefluted medium being of size C flutes or larger, with the flutes orientedvertically; wherein the box contains at least one inner package, theinner package comprising a plurality of stacked disposable absorbentarticles wrapped in a polymeric film bag; and wherein there is a topclearance TC between the inner package and the top panel of no more than1 cm.
 2. The package of claim 1 wherein the opposing flaps overlap. 3.The package of claim 1 wherein the opposing flaps do not overlap, andthe package further comprises a handle reinforcing material attached toeach of the side panels and extending across the top panel, and disposedbetween the handle cutouts.
 4. The package of claim 3 wherein the handlereinforcing material has a longitudinal tensile strength of at least 20pounds per inch width.
 5. The package of claim 1 wherein the handlecutout has a profile of a shape selected from the group consisting ofcircular, bean-shaped, peanut-shaped, oval, ovaloid, egg-shaped,elliptical, rounded rectangle and race-track.
 6. The package of claim 5wherein the handle cutout width is from 15 mm to 35 mm and the handlecutout length is from 80 mm to 100 mm.
 7. The package of claim 5 whereinthe handle cutout is partial, having terminal ends, leaving an attachedportion of material along a fold line extending between the terminalends.
 8. The package of claim 7 wherein the handle cutout is continuousbetween the terminal ends.
 9. The package claim 7 wherein the fold lineis substantially parallel to the flap edge.
 10. The package of claim 7wherein the attached portion of material forms a residual cutout flapwithin the handle cutout, and the residual cutout flap has a Push-InForce of no more than 18 pounds.
 11. A package, comprising: arectangular box container formed of corrugated cardboard, the box havinga rectangular top panel, a rectangular bottom panel, a pair ofoppositely-disposed rectangular side panels, a rectangular front panel,and a rectangular back panel; the top panel being formed at least inpart of a pair of opposing flaps, the flaps being integral with therespective front and back panels and extending from proximal edges athorizontal folds in the cardboard defining upper edges of the front andback and outer edges of the top, and the flaps having distal terminaledges, wherein each of the pair of opposing flaps has a flap widthmeasured along a direction parallel to its associated horizontal foldand a flap length measured along a direction perpendicular to itsassociated horizontal fold, and each of the pair of opposing flaps has ahandle cutout therethrough, the handle cutout having a cutout width anda cutout length, the cutout length being oriented along andsubstantially centered along the flap width, the respective handlecutouts being respectively disposed substantially opposite each other;wherein the corrugated cardboard comprises a first layer of linerboard,a second layer of linerboard, and a fluted medium disposed between thefirst linerboard and the second linerboard, the fluted medium being ofsize C flutes or larger, with the flutes oriented vertically; whereinthe box contains at least one inner package, the inner packagecomprising a plurality of stacked disposable absorbent articles wrappedin a polymeric film bag; wherein there is a top clearance TC between theinner package and the top panel of no more than 1 cm; wherein the handlecutout is partial, having terminal ends, leaving an attached portion ofmaterial along a fold line extending between the terminal ends; andwherein the attached portion of material forms a residual cutout flapwithin the handle cutout, and the residual cutout flap has a Push-InForce of no more than 18 pounds.